I consider myself one of the biggest Splinter Cell fans out there. I reviewed almost every entry in the series during my decade at Official Xbox Magazine early on, and I also reviewed the only release that's come out in the 13 years since I joined IGN. Given that, I feel I can speak for many of us when I say Splinter Cell fans have become experts in patient suffering. Ubisoft, the franchise owner, consistently features protagonist Sam Fisher—the middle-aged super-spy—in nearly everything except a proper new installment of his own series. Despite cameos in recent titles like Rainbow Six Siege, Ghost Recon Wildlands, and the shelved XDefiant, it's now been 13 years since Sam's last solo outing in Splinter Cell: Blacklist. Yes, a new project is officially in the works—a full remake of the original Splinter Cell, developed by Ubisoft Toronto using the modern Snowdrop engine—but nearly four years have passed since its announcement, which was accompanied by only three pieces of concept art. We didn't even get a teaser trailer. And there genuinely hasn't been a single update since.

So, it was a pleasant surprise when Netflix announced a new animated series, Splinter Cell: Deathwatch. I'm cautiously optimistic, given that the showrunner is Derek Kolstad, the creative force behind John Wick. While it's obviously not a new game, if the series turns out to be genuinely good, it could renew interest in the franchise and perhaps finally push Ubisoft into high gear on that long-awaited remake or spark development on a brand-new Sam Fisher adventure.

My optimism grew after watching the first trailer. For me, Michael Ironside will always be the iconic voice of Sam Fisher (I still miss his presence in Blacklist, despite that game's quality). However, if the veteran actor has moved on from the role, casting Liev Schreiber as a replacement seems inspired. "I loved [Ironside's performance]," Kolstad told IGN in a recent digital cover story on Deathwatch. "But ultimately, for a long-term project, they wanted a fresh sound. Several actors were considered." The trailer revealed a Sam Fisher who's no longer middle-aged; now he's an older man. "We've seen this 'one last job' concept before, like in Logan, but for me, this is my Unforgiven," Kolstad said. "It's that classic '70s thriller vibe, and it was a joy to write." Naturally, as a superfan, my immediate thought was: "Wait—does this connect to the game's storyline?"

A major element of Season One involves Douglas Shetland, a former ally and later nemesis of Fisher who was central to Chaos Theory's story, influencing events decades after his apparent demise.

I received a direct answer from Ubisoft: yes, Splinter Cell: Deathwatch is considered part of the core storyline spanning the six main games (seven if you count the PSP's Splinter Cell Essentials, which I reviewed for PSM Magazine). A Ubisoft spokesperson confirmed it "follows the established timeline and characters from the mainline games," while noting that "some creative liberties were taken with specific events for television adaptation." Without giving spoilers—and as someone who is reviewing Deathwatch—this means certain pivotal events from the games lead to the same outcomes but may follow a slightly altered path. "We’ve referenced elements from the games," Kolstad explained, "but the changes are minor enough that we hope fans won't be upset." One could argue that given the time since the last game, even dedicated fans watching Deathwatch might not recall every detail. Ultimately, that will be for the community to judge.

In Deathwatch, Sam Fisher is retired yet remains exceptionally capable (and even sports a man bun!). He transferred command of Fourth Echelon to a seasoned and wiser Anna "Grim" Grímsdóttir years ago. While they haven't spoken in some time, their trust-based bond remains strong when they reconnect. As the series begins, Fourth Echelon is a fading relic struggling for relevance long after Sam's departure, though events in the Netflix show naturally shift that status. Meanwhile, Douglas Shetland—Fisher’s long-time ally turned archenemy, who played a crucial role in Chaos Theory's narrative—significantly impacts Season One's events, even decades after his supposed death.

You might wonder, "Do I need to play or replay the Splinter Cell games to fully enjoy Deathwatch?" Honestly, the answer is no. Binging all the games before the October 14 release probably won't enhance your experience much more than going in fresh or having not touched the series in over a decade. That said, you'll encounter a few sights and sounds—like the unmistakable activation tone of the tri-lens night vision goggles—that are sure to spark a nostalgic smile, regardless of how long it's been since your last stealth mission.